Rep. Donnie Berthiaume

Maddy summaryThis bill expands Massachusetts' Good Samaritan Law to protect individuals who voluntarily transport needy people in their private vehicles. It allows properly licensed persons from recognized organizations and private individuals to move those in need to a specific destination without compensation, covering only tolls and parking fees. Under the new provisions, these drivers would not be held legally responsible for harm caused during transport unless the injury resulted from gross negligence or willful misconduct. The measure aims to encourage private citizens to assist others in emergencies by providing them with legal immunity against liability claims.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows children in state custody to visit their imprisoned parents at locations other than the correctional facility where the parent is held. It requires correction facilities to establish methods to verify that these remote visitations occur in every case. The law aims to maintain family connections by enabling visits outside the prison walls.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits courts from granting visitation or custody rights to a parent convicted of rape to their child conceived during the crime. The law affects cases where a convicted rapist seeks contact with the victim's child and directly impacts the legal rights of both the convicted parent and the child. Under this measure, a court cannot order visitation unless the child has reached the age of 18 or has been legally declared emancipated from the other parent. This change ensures that the child's autonomy is prioritized by allowing them to decide on contact with the convicted parent once they are an adult or independent. The provision applies specifically to convictions under Massachusetts statutes related to rape and the conception of the child during the offense.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to strengthen protections for individuals in their homes by establishing a "duty to retreat" for anyone who illegally enters a dwelling where others are present. Under the new rules, an intruder who fails to leave immediately after discovering occupants loses the right to sue or press criminal charges against the residents for any injuries that occur during the confrontation. The legislation also imposes harsher penalties for specific scenarios, such as a mandatory five-year prison sentence for entering a home with minors and a minimum twenty-year sentence for armed intruders who use force or threaten violence. These changes aim to deter home invasions and ensure that legal occupants can defend themselves without fear of retaliation from the intruder.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to ban the possession, sale, and use of child sex dolls in Massachusetts. It defines these items as anatomically correct dolls or robots that resemble minors and are intended for sexual acts. The law would impose fines of up to $10,000 and prison sentences of up to five years for a first offense, with harsher penalties of up to ten years for subsequent violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits registered sex offenders in Massachusetts from legally changing their names or using any name other than the one they registered under. It directly affects individuals listed on the state sex offender registry by amending existing laws to forbid name changes through official channels and prevent them from adopting new surnames in marriage. The legislation also ensures that failing to use the registered name is treated as a violation of registration requirements. By restricting name changes, the bill aims to maintain the accuracy of public records and ensure that the community can easily identify registered offenders.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits employers and employees from using nondisclosure agreements to hide facts about sexual harassment, discrimination, or retaliation in the workplace. It makes such clauses in settlement agreements legally unenforceable, while still allowing victims to keep their own identities private if they choose. The law also ensures that victims can sue for damages with a jury trial and receive attorney fees if they win, and it bars the use of public funds to settle these specific claims against government employees.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the fees charged by court stenographers and transcribers in Massachusetts for providing trial transcripts. It directly affects attorneys, judges, and parties involved in legal proceedings who request these official records. The legislation sets a standard rate of $4.00 per page for the original transcript and $1.50 per page for additional copies, while establishing a lower rate of $0.35 per page for indigent individuals and their counsel. Furthermore, it adjusts the daily copy rates to $5.75 for the original and $2.25 for extras, ensuring that all transactions meet a minimum payment of $20.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts law to allow a patient's attending physician to designate another willing physician as a temporary healthcare proxy if the original designated agent is unavailable, unwilling, or unable to make decisions. The new provision requires the attending physician to make reasonable efforts to contact the original agent, obtain an independent assessment of the patient's lack of capacity from a qualified professional, and secure consensus from the facility's medical ethics committee before making such a designation. Additionally, the bill mandates that the identity of the designated physician be documented in the patient's medical record and explicitly states that this change does not authorize physician-assisted suicide.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes an annual three-day free snowmobile weekend in Massachusetts for non-residents. During this designated period, non-residents with valid registration from any state or Canadian province can operate snowmobiles on public lands and private lands under agreement without needing a Massachusetts Trail Pass. The event is to be organized annually by the Massachusetts Office of Law Enforcement in coordination with the Snowmobile Association of Massachusetts.